Shun groupism, back-biting; ensure SP unity: Mulayam to leaders

Warning partymen against groupism and back-biting, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday asked its youth leaders to maintain discipline as they have to take the party forward.

“Shun groupism...instead of being supporters of any individual, you should back Samajwadi Party...the (true) wellwishers of the party have been identified as well as who all are wellwishers of those indulging in wrong practices.

“I want unity in the party and a government with clear majority...this is my target,” Yadav said as the ruling party geared up for the do-or-die Assembly polls few months later. Addressing party workers in the bastion of Ansari brothers who have since merged their Quami Ekta Dal (QED) with SP, he said this will further strengthen the party in Purvanchal and ensure impressive victory in the coming elections.

“Afzal Ansari and his brother have come at a time that it has strengthened the SP...althougth some within the party had opposed it, but Shivpal cooperated and I got the Ansari brothers into the party,” he said.

In an apparent reference to youth-wing workers leading a campaign during the recent family fued in SP, Yadav said, “Workers should tell him and other office bearers about the shortcomings and wrong doings in the government and party in a disciplined manner as this it their right but still people are indulging in groupism and back biting...back biting never improves anyone’s image.”

“I have said it several times that they (youth leaders) have to take care of the government and party in times to come ...they should prepare themselves for it by maintaining discipline and reading socialist literature,” he said.

“As far as SP is concerned, it faces many challenges...some want to weaken the party by back biting...will say something on my face and something else on my back,” he said.

The SP chief who kicked off his election campaign here said, “This rally is taking place at a time when elections are round the corner...some people want that SP gets weak but the people of Ghazipur and nearby places have proved that no one can compete with SP.

“SP government is working for the poor, farmers and traders...take a resolve in this historic meeting before going to work for bringing the party back to power with a big mandate,” he said.

On the importance of the area for the party, the SP chief said, “Ghazipur has a historic importance for socialists...not many people know that Socialist Party was formed here.”

‘Modi arrogant, it doesn’t augur well for democracy’

Attacking Narendra Modi over the demonetisation move, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday said the Prime Minister is being “too arrogant” which “does not augur well” for democracy.

Addressing Samajwadi Party’s campaign rally at the RTI ground here, he accused the Prime Minister of working as per his “own whims and fancies” and “cautioned” him to change his policies.